China has pushed back strongly against Washington’s threat to impose the “toughest sanctions in history” on Iran. Beijing says it opposes unilateral sanctions that lack a basis in international law or a mandate from the UN Security Council—and insists that pressure and military action will only escalate tensions. China remains one of Iran’s most important economic partners and a major buyer of Iranian crude. The standoff now raises major questions: Will Washington’s sanctions campaign isolate Tehran—or deepen the China-Iran partnership and widen geopolitical divisions across the Middle East and Asia? | Videos

Trump escalates economic war on Iran with crushing sanctions and oil blockade, betting financial pressure can force Tehran to accept US terms.

President Trump has threatened severe economic consequences for countries and entities helping Iran, potentially putting China and its purchases of Iranian oil at the center of…